Two former coaches among trio inducted into Crusaders Hall of Fame

Hours after he was named performance coach of the Black Ferns and All Blacks, Wayne Smith joined Todd Blackadder and Justin Marshall in the Crusaders’ Hall of Fame.

They were the first players inducted into the newly launched initiative at a sold-out charity lunch in Christchurch on Friday, one attended by Crusaders greats such as Reuben Thorne, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.

That trio is almost certain to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with time, but in the meantime it was Smith, Blackadder and Marshall who got the nod by the selection committee, which includes Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, lock Sam Whitelock and former loose forward Sam Broomhall.

Former All Blacks and Black Ferns head coach Smith, with Blackadder as captain, guided the Crusaders to their first title win in 1998 after they defeated the Blues in the final in Auckland.

[Source: Stuff.co]